Collapsible boat structure



m- 7, 1965 J. J. FITZMAURICE 3,204,260

COLLAPSIBLE BOAT STRUCTURE Filed July 22, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTOENEVS Sept. 7, 1965 i J- J. FITZMAURICE COLLAPSIBLE BOAT STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 22, 1963 INVENTOR. JOHN J. I-'/ TZM/IUE/CE 95% Ml l HTTOBNEYS United States Patent 3,204,260 COLLAPSIBLE BOAT STRUCTURE John J. Fitzmaurice, Rte. 1, Kingsville, Mo. Filed July 22, 1963, Ser. No. 296,791 4 Claims. (Cl. 9-2) This invention relates to small boats, and more particularly to such craft adapted to be folded into compact form for transporation and storage purposes.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a unique small boat or movable dock structure which is collapsible and foldable into an extremely compact configuration for ease of transportation and storage; to provide such a boat structure which has a very high load capacity or buoyancy to weight ratio; to provide such a craft which is easily adapted to be propelled by conventional apparatus such as an outboard motor; to provide such a foldable boat which is safe in use in that it is very difiicult to capsize; to provide such a boat structure having low water drag at moderate speeds and which is easily steerable; to provide such a collapsible boat having a plurality of individual enclosed air chambers to provide buoyancy and maintain the craft afloat in the event of an accidental puncture of one chamber; to provide such a foldable structure which, in small boat sizes, is easily handled and rendered water-worthy by a single person; and to provide such a foldable boat which is simple and inexpensive in construction.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable boat structure embodying this invention shown propelled afloat by a conventional outboard motor.

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the boat structure with portions broken away to show the interior of buoyant members thereon.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale particularly showing one of the buoyant members which include expandable bellows.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view with portions broken away and particularly showing the boat structure deck in partially folded condition and a rigid planar plate or brace member for assembly thereagainst.

FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation showing the boat structure in completely collapsed condition for storage or transport.

Referring to the drawings in more detail:

The reference numeral 1 generally indicates a collapsible boat structure embodying this invention. The structure 1 includes an elongated deck 2 composed of a rigid planar front section 3, pointed at 4 to assume the bow outline of a conventional small boat, and a rigid planar rear section 5. The front and rear sections 3 and 5 respectively have top surfaces or faces 6 and 7 and bottom surfaces or faces 8 and 9. The deck sections 3 and 5 respectively include inner end edges 10 and 11 positioned in abutting relation and extending transversely across substantially the center of the deck 2. Hinge members 12 and 13 pivotally connect the sections 3 and 5 at the end edges 10 and 11, permitting the selective folding of the front and rear sections into face-opposing relations as best illustrated in FIG. 5.

The deck section bottom faces 8 and 9, in the illustrated example, each have a pair of buoyant members secured thereto, the pair on the front section being designated 14 and 15 and the pair on the rear section 16 and 17. The front pair of buoyant members 14 and 15 are similar in construction and purpose to the rear pair ex- 3,204,260 Patented Sept. 7, 1965 cept for certain variations described hereinafter. Referring particularly to FIG. 3, the buoyant member 16, which is identical to the member 17, is depicted on an enlarged scale and comprises a substantially rigid plate or board 18 underlying the section 5 and having a front edge 19 and a rear edge 20. The board 18 includes spaced-apart side edges 21 and 22 and upper and lower surfaces 23 and 24. The front edge 19 is located adjacent the bottom face 9 and is pointed generally in the direction of forward boat motion as indicated by the arrow 25. Hinge members 26 pivotally mount the board 18 to the bottom face 9 adjacent the front edge 19 permitting the board to pivot upwardly and downwardly with respect to the rear section 5 about the front edge 19 as indicated by the double-headed arrow 27, FIG. 2.

A flexible bellows 28 has substantially vertically ex pandable opposed side walls 29 and 30 and a substantially vertically expandable rear wall 31 connecting the side walls 29 and 30 at the rear terminations thereof and a vertically collapsed front wall 32. The front wall 32 extends between the collapsible side walls at the front terminations thereof and is located adjacent the hinge members 26 defining a locus or axis of rotation about which the rear and side walls expand. The rear wall 31 is located adjacent the board rear edge 20 and the rear edge 33 of the rear deck section 5. The bellows walls have connected upper anchor flanges 34 secured to the bottom face 9 and connected lower anchor flanges 35 secured to the upper surface 23 of the board 18, the respective flanges 34 and 35 being so secured, in the illustrated example, by a suitable water-resistant adhesive 36.

The bellows 28, board 18 and covering deck section form an enclosed pie-shaped chamber 37 which enlarges as the board is pivoted downwardly from a small acute angle or collapsed position with respect to the deck section, as illustrated in FIG. 5, to a larger acute angle or bellows-expanded position as illustrated in FIG. 2. When the board is pivoted downwardly to the bellows-expanded position, the board lower surface 24 forms a rearwardly and downwardly extending water deflector which tends to cause the boat to rise during forward motion, and thus present less surface in contact with the water for reducing boat drag during operation. The deflector also tends to raise the boat over solid objects or obstacles which are struck during movement, thus minimizing the possibility of broken or punctured structure. Further, as noted below, air trapped in the chamber 37 is resiliently compressible, thus offering a shock absorbing effect by permitting rapid upward pivotal deflection of the board 18.

The lower plates or boards of the front pair of buoyant members 14 and 15, corresponding to the board 18 of the rear member 16, are designated 38 and are similar to the board 18 except that the outer side edges 39 thereof abruptly change direction at 40 and angle inwardly toward the pointed portion 4 of the deck front section 3, FIG. 4. Further, the boards 38 at a forward section 41 thereof located forwardly of the point 40 slope upwardly at a greater angle than the rear section 42 thereof (FIG. 2) whereby the front pair of buoyant member boards 38 more nearly approximate the under surface configuration of a conventional boat hull. The front edge portions 43 of the boards 38 are pivotally secured to the bottom surface of the front deck section 3 by hinge members 44 (FIG. 4) in the same manner as the board 18 described above.

The respective deck sections 3 and 5 have bores 45 therethrough forming air passageways communicating with the respective buoyant member chambers. Appropriate valves 46 are located in the respective bores 45 and are adapted through the rotation of a suitable handle 47 to selectively prevent and permit air flow through the bore 45 by way of closable valve openings 48. It is to be understood that the weight of the boards 18 and 38, coupled with the flexibility of the bellows walls, is sufficient to induce air flow into the respective enclosed chambers, enlarging same, upon lifting the boat structure and opening the respective valves 46. It is to be understood that upon closing the valves 46 the air is trapped within the buoyant member chambers to provide a very high buoyancy to boat structure Weight ratio without the use of compressed gas generating equipment or need for lung inflation.

A plurality of clamp members 48 extend upwardly through the front and rear deck sections 3 and adjacent the lateral or side edges 49 and 50 thereof and terminate above the top faces 6 and 7 in inwardly extending heads 51. The clamp members 48 include threaded shank portions 52 extending beneath the deck sections and having wing nuts 53 threadedly engaged therewith for selectively drawing the heads 51 downwardly toward the respective deck top faces. A rigid planar plate or brace member 54 is removably secured in simultaneous contact with the front and rear deck section top faces 6 and 7 by drawing the clamp member heads 51 downwardly against the peripheral or edge portions 55 of the brace member 54. When the brace member 54 is thus secured with the deck section end edges and 11 extending transversely approximately across the center thereof, the front and rear deck sections are maintained in planar relation and folding is prevented about the hinge members 12 and 13. Cut-out or notched portions 56 are provided intermediate the ends of the brace member edge portions 55 for reasons noted below.

Suitable sockets 57 extend into the respective deck sections generally adjacent the periphery or border thereof and removably receive suitable rail posts 58 in upstanding rigid position on the deck top faces. Suitable rail bars 59 are removably mounted between respective posts 58 by means of appropriate clamps 60 forming an upwardly extending guard rail 61 on the boat structure 1. The notched portions 56 in the brace member 54 provide clearance for selected posts 58. A post 62 removably secured in a manner similar to the posts 58 is provided for supporting a decorative or identifying flag 63, if desired.

The rear pair of buoyant members 16 and 17 are spaced apart providing an intermediate rear deck section 64 which is free of obstruction for receiving the clamp bracket 65 of a conventional outboard motor 66.

When it is desired to collapse the boat structure 1 for transport or storage, the outboard motor 66 is removed, the parts forming the guard rail 61 are disassembled from the boat, and the clamp members 48 are loosened to permit the removal of the plate or brace member 54. The valves 46 are opened and air is expelled from the buoyant member chambers collapsing the respective bellows and reducing the boat structure to a substantially fiat configuration having the outline of a boat deck. The structure is then folded along the hinge members 12, the brace member 54 laid thereover and the rail parts tied together in a package 67 and placed on top of the brace member 54. A suitable belt or rope 68 may then be tied around theentire collapsed structure, making a very compact configuration 69, which is easily stored or transported, for example on the roof of a conventional automobile.

It is to be understood that while one form of this invention has been illustrated and described, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An elongated collapsible boat structure including:

(a) a rigid planar front deck section and a rigid planar rear deck section respectively having top and bottom faces, said. front and rear deck sections each having an end edge in abutting relation to each other, hinge members pivotally connecting said sections at said end edges for selectively folding same into top faceopposing relation, said deck section bottom faces each having a pair of buoyant members secured thereto, said buoyant members each comprising;

(b) a substantially rigid board underlying the section and having a front and rear edge and an upper and lower surface, said board front edge being adjacent the respective bottom face and pointed generally in the direction of forward boat motion, hinge members pivotally mounting said board to the section at said front edge permitting said board to pivot downwardly through an acute angle with respect to the section,

(0) a flexible bellows having substantially vertically expandable opposed side walls and a substantially vertically expandable rear wall connecting said side walls and a vertically collapsed front wall, said front wall extending between said collapsible side walls and being located adjacent said board hinge members, said rear wall being located adjacent said board rear edge, said side, rear and front walls each having upper anchor flanges adhesively secured to the section bottom face and lower anchor flanges adhesively secured to said board upper surface forming an enclosed pie-shaped expandable chamber therebetween which enlarges as the board is pivoted downwardly from the section, said board lower surface forming a rearwardly and downwardly extending water deflector for said boat during forward motion thereof,

((1) means forming air passageways into the respective chambers, valves in said passageways adapted to selectively prevent and permit air flow therethrough, said boards each having a weight sufficient to induce respective chamber expansion upon lifting the1 deck section and opening the respective valve, an

(e) means for selectively maintaining said faces in the same plane and preventing folding at said section end edges.

2. In a boat structure adapted to be collapsed for storage and transportation; a rigid deck section having top and bottom faces, said deck section bottom face having at least one buoyant member secured thereto, said buoyant member including a substantially rigid board underlying said section and having a front edge and an upper and lower surface, said board front edge being adjacent said bottom face and pointed generally in the direction of forward boat motion, hinge members pivotally mounting said board to said section at said front edge permitting the board to pivot downwardly through an acute angle with respect to said section, a flexible substantially vertically expandable bellows having upper anchor flanges secured to said section bottom face and lower anchor flanges secured to said board upper surface forming an enclosed inflatable chamber which enlarges as said board is pivoted downwardly, means forming an air passageway communicating with said chamber, and

. a valve in said passageway adapted to selectively prevent and permit air flow through said passageway for controlling the air in said chamber, said buoyant member being a size with respect to said deck section to provide a major portion of the buoyancy of said boat structure, said boat structure including a rigid planar front deck section and a rigid planar rear deck section, said front and rear deck sections each having an inner end edge located in abutting relation to each other, hinge members pivotally connecting said sections at said end edges permitting the selective folding of said sections into top face-opposing relation, at least one of said buoyant members being secured to the bottom faces of each of said sections, and

5 means for selectively maintaining said sections in unfolded relation.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said inner edges extend transversely of the boat structure.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for selectively maintaining said sections in unfolded relation comprises; a plurality of clamp members on said front and rear deck sections and respectively having heads extending above the top faces thereof, and a rigid planar brace member removably secured by said clamp member heads in simultaneous contact with the front and rear section top faces for maintaining said faces in the same plane and preventing folding at said section end edges.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/51 Larson 9-2 1/52 Ronne 92 9/61 Jacobs et a1 114-665 2/62 Diamond 11466.5

3/62 Fridge 11466.5 3/63 Carter 114-66.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 9/ 27 Germany. 12/53 Great Britain.

FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ELONGATED COLLAPSIBLE BOAT STRUCTURE INCLUDING: (A) A RIGID PLANAR FRONT DECK SECTION AND A RIGID PLANAR REAR DECK SECTIOPN RESPECTIVELY HAVING TOP AND BOTTOM FACES, SAID FRONT AND REAR DECK SECTIONS EACH HAVING AN END EDGE IN ABUTTING RELATION TO EACH OTHER, HINGE MEMBERS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID SECTIONS AT SAID END EDGES FOR SELECTIVELY FOLDING SAME INTO TOP FACEOPPOSING RELATION, SAID DECK SECTION BOTTOM FACES EACH HAVING A PAIR OF BUOYANT MEMBERS SECURED THERETO, SAID BUOYANT MEMBERS EACH COMPRISING; (B) A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID BODY UNDERLYING THE SECTION AND HAVING A FRONT AND REAR EDGE AND AN UPPER AND LOWER SURFACE, SAID BOARD FRONT EDGE BEING ADJACENT THE RESPECTIVE BOTTOM FACE AND POINTED GENERALLY IN THE DIRECTION OF FORWARD BOAT MOOTION, HINGE MEMBERS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID BOARD TO THE SECTION AT SAID FRONT EDGE PERMITTING SAID BOARD TO PIVOT DOWNWARDLY THROUGH AN ACTUATE ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO THE SECTION, (C) A FLEXIBLE BELLOWS HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY EXPANDABLE OPPOSED SIDE WALLS AND A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY EXPANDABLE REAR WALL CONNECTING SAID SIDE WALLS AND A VERTICALLY COLLAPSED FRONT WALL, SAID FRONT WALL EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID COLLAPSIBLE SIDE WALLS AND BEING LOCATED ADJACENT SAID BOARD HINGE MEMBERS, SAID REAR WALL BEING LOCATED ADJACENT SAID BOARD REAR EDGE, SAID SIDE, REAR AND FRONT WALLS EACH HAVING UPPER ANCHOR FLANGES ADHESIVELY SECURED TO THE SECTION BOTTOM FACE AND LOWER ANCHOR FLANGES ADHESIVELY SECURED TO SAID BOARD UPPER SURFACE FORMING AN ENCLOSED PIE-SHAPED EXPANDABLE CHAMBER THEREBETWEEN WHICH ENLARGES AS THE BOARD IS PIVOTED DOWNWARDLY FROM THE SECTION, SAID BOARD LOWER SURFACE FORMING A REARWARLDY AND DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING WATER DEFLECTOR FOR SAID BOAT DURING FORWARD MOTION THEREOF, (D) MEANS FORMING AIR PASSAGEWAYS INTO THE RESPECTIVE CHAMBERS, PREVENT AND PERMIT AIR FLOW THERETO SELECTIVELY PREVENT AND PERMIT AIR FLOW THERETHROUGH ,SAID BOARDS EACH HAVINGA WEIGHT SUFFICIENT TO INDUCE RESPECTIVE CHAMBER EXPANSION UPON LIFTING THE DECK SECTION AND OPENING THE RESPECTIVE VALVE, AND (E) MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY MAINTAINING SAID FACES IN THE SAME PLANE AND PREVENTING FOLDING AT SAID SECTION END EDGES. 